Scotsman Review
Our criteria 
  • Ambience - It's important that a restaurant is inviting. We rate the decor, comfort and atmosphere.
  • Drink - Is the wine or cocktail list as exciting as the food, or does it fall short? Same goes for soft drinks. 
  • Food - We judge dishes on flavour, but also use of produce, cooking skill and presentation
  • Service - The staff and pace of a meal can make or break a meal out.
  • Value - From the food on the plate to service and surroundings, we check that you get what you're paying for.
Ambiance
8/10
Food
7/10
Total
0%
June 7, 2017

The Ship Inn, Elie, restaurant review

The food at The Ship Inn isn't quite as good as it sounds, says Gaby Soutar

Wills and Kate were in here recently. They sat RIGHT THERE,” says somebody with a very loud voice, pointing at the table opposite us.

Indeed, even if he’s wrong about the royals, this historic pub serves a very well-heeled clientele. On our visit, there seemed to be a secret wardrobe code of cords, chinos, polo shirts and cashmere sweaters slung round shoulders.

“Look at the Scottish people!” laughed the same diner, pointing at the hardy types having picnics on a very sunny, but still quite chilly day.

Hmm, yes, you could say he’s more socks orf (preferably with deck shoes on) than taps aff.

This place was refurbished last year, so now its 19th-century shell features Farrow & Ball-esque sage green walls, toilets with basins that resemble Falcon Enamelware tins, copper fishing lights and walls hung with paintings (for sale).

Plans are afoot for an extension, The Ship’s Cabin, opening this summer, so business must be booming for the TBC Pub Company, who are also behind the very good Bridge Inn in Ratho, and The 19th Hole at Earlsferry, just nearby.

Sea air, and patting lots of cute and sandy dogs makes one hungry, so I was pretty excited by their new Spring menu, especially a starter of East Neuk lobster taco (£9.50, also available as a main, £18.25).

It turned out to be…..fine, with two hunks of sweet claw meat per soft corn taco. My main criticism, excellent local seafood aside, is that there was too much of a discrepancy between what I was presented with and what was listed on the menu.

They said: “East Neuk lobster taco, caramelised pineapple, tomato and green chilli salsa, guacamole, sour cream, gem lettuce”.

I got: “East Neuk lobster taco, pineapple, halved cherry tomatoes, avocado bits, sour cream, gem lettuce”.

8 easy recipes for Easter - including perfect roast potatoes, Good Friday fish and chocolate cocktails

Hmm, I’d call that fake news, since those fruits must undergo a transformative process to become guacamole and salsa. Also, where was my caramelisation?

Our other starter of duck ragout, pea, mint and mushroom risotto with mustard fruit (£9.75) was pleasant, though the shredded duck was a little dry. The rice had a good firm texture, a creamy, mushroomy flavour and there were some gummy bits of sweet mustard fruit preserve to balance things out. (We couldn’t taste any mint, which was maybe a good thing).

I’m afraid the main course didn’t blow one’s wellybobs off either.

The piece of fish – east coast cod aux paupiette (£17.95) – was decanted by the waiter from its paper, with a belly-flop onto my plate. It was a fine fillet, if a bit dry, and was supposed to come with buzz-wordy accompaniments of “preserved lemon, red peppers, zucchini, date and quinoa”.

Sadly, this turned out to be ratatouille with a bowl of boringly plain and unseasoned quinoa on the side. I felt underwhelmed and slightly up-sold, especially since somebody forgot to sprinkle any cheese on the potentially consoling side of truffle and Parmesan fries (£3.50).

Edinburgh’s Kilted Donuts are popping-up at Bonnie & Wild Food Hall for Easter

In contrast, our other main course of Elie Estate loin of venison (£18.95) was beautiful, with hunks of soft pink meat, a bank of velvety celeriac purée, wilted baby spinach and wild mushrooms, plus a rich and salty sweet chocolate game jus that was as glossy as a labrador’s coat. Gorgeous, the best dish all meal.

Onto pudding, and I do love a meringue, but preferably the crispy crunchy gooey-centred ones, not the soft Italian versions (they’re nice too, but not my fave).Thus, we weren’t that thrilled to find the “slow-baked meringue” (£6.50) was actually a squishy and frothy variety filled with “bitter sweet chocolate” custard, with a little crème anglaise on the side and some blobs of intense raspberry jus.

They were out of the billed rum and raisin ice-cream, so I had some decent vanilla with my banana tarte tatin (£6.50) – a thick disc of puff pastry topped with stubs of banana and a bit of gluey toffee sauce.

It was fine, so it’s just a shame the menu promises what the kitchen can’t quite provide.

I bet Wills and Kate got proper guacamole.

Why do we eat fish on Good Friday? Christian meat abstinence explained - and recipes for fish and chips at home

The Ship Inn

The Toft, Elie

(01333 330246, www.shipinn.scot)

Gaby Soutar is a lifestyle editor at The Scotsman. She has been reviewing restaurants for The Scotsman Magazine since 2007 and edits the weekly food pages.
Copyright ©2024 National World Publishing Ltd
Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy
crosschevron-down linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram